RUGBY LEAGUE
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Queensland may have won on the scoreboard but the Blues still believe their forwards can turn the series on its head.
Coaches Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga both claimed minor victories post-match but it's likely both packs will need the remaining two games to lay any real claim to dominance in the middle.
Much was made of the Blues' decision to leave out Luke Lewis and go with four big forwards on the bench but it would be hard to argue it was a bad move given the performance of the Blues' big men.
Starting props Aaron Woods and James Tamou were enormous in the opening quarter of the match, combining for 18 hit-ups and 160 metres in their opening stint to help the Blues to a 10-6 lead after 26 minutes.
NSW lost nothing when Andrew Fifita and debutant David Klemmer came on and combined for 25 hit-ups for 173 metres.
Skipper Paul Gallen is expected to return for game two, adding more quality minutes to the Blues' arsenal. The lower minutes provided by Trent Merrin and Josh Jackson could allow Daley to drop a big body from his bench and go with an impact player.
That would put Canberra livewire Blake Austin or even the discarded Josh Reynolds in the selection frame, but Daley indicated he would most likely stick with the four-pronged forward attack for the must-win clash at the MCG.
"I thought they were all great, our front row was excellent," Daley said.
"I know our attack was criticised last year and we didn't get many chances [on Wednesday] but our front-rowers were great.
"Jimmy Tamou was sensational tonight. [Jackson and Klemmer] handled themselves really well. It's always different [to club football], it's a lot faster and a lot harder but they'll be better for the run.
"[Queensland] were getting off the line quickly and they were dominating at the ruck, which is something we'll have a look at but given the amount of possession they had, and where they had it, I am rapt."
While Michael Morgan was picked on the bench for Queensland there were suggestions Roosters firebrand Dylan Napa could be used to combat the Blues' size and youth on the interchange. At 22, Napa was seen as a remedy to the perception Queensland was too old a roster, but coach Meninga said his forwards had been vindicated by the win.
"Our middle were exceptional with their go-forward," he said. "I think we outstripped them when you talk about metres in the middle and I think we did a really good job with the ball against their middle too. NSW came with a set plan around keeping hold of the footy, get to the kick and around field position and I thought we beat them at their own game. That's very pleasing given all the talk in the lead-up to the game."